tolbert



Feb. 21, 1956 w. P. TOLBERT SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Dec. 8, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. za William I? 7blbert Feb. 21, 1956 W. P- TOLBERT SIGNALING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 8, 1949 INVENTOR. Wzlliam I? Talbert Feb. 2h. 1956 w. P. TOLBERT 2,735,637

SIGNALING DEVICE Filed D86. 8, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ii 42 44' I 50 5e 62} a2 60 v 8 7a INVENTOR.

William P Filbert gigs.

Feb. 21, 1956 w. P. TOLBERT SIGNALING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 8, 1949 INVENTOR. William P 751 bert United States Patent SIGNALING DEVICE William P. Tolbert, Fort Madison, Iowa, assignor to Anthes Force Oiler Company, Fort Madison, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application December 8, 1949, Serial No. 131,786

9 Claims. (Cl. 248-33) This invention relates to signaling devices and is concerned more particularly with a portable reflector device adapted to be placed on the road as a warning to approaching vehicles, and with a mounting carrier for a plurality of such devices.

An object of the invention is to provide a reflector flare which is adapted to be supported in stable condition on the road and is capable of being completely enclosed in its support.

Another object is to provide a reflector flare device so constructed that two or more of such devices may be securely nested together to form a compact cartridge.

An additional object is to provide for securely and compactly holding together a plurality of flares by a simple mechanism capable of quick assembly and disassembly.

An additional object is to provide a flare of the character referred to constructed to greatly reduce skidding and overturning due to the wind.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention will be better understood upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

.Fig. l is a perspective view showing a series of flare devices in a holder therefor, mounted on a vehicle wall or other support.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a reflector unit as it appears when mounted in reflecting position on its support.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. l.

- .Fig. 4 is an elevational view taken as indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a back elevational view of the holder, on a reduced scale, taken as indicated by the line 55 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 6-6 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 77 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the line 88 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the line 9-9 in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken as indicated by the line 10-10 point close to its mounted operative position, said mounted position being shown in Figs. 2, 10 and 11.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, ,there is shown at 20 an open container member or pan which may be of generally rectangular form, to the opposite sides 22 of which, preferably near an end 24, a pair of links 26 is frictionally pivoted at one end as at 28. The other ends of the links are frictionally pivoted to trunnions 30 extending laterally from a bezel 32 containing a reflector 34, the bezel forming part of a frame 36 which preferably includes a'second bezel 38 containing a second reflector 40 in the same plane as the first reflector. Each reflector may comprise a set to reflect light from opposite directions. The reflectors 34 and 40 are spaced apart and are bridged by spaced frame portions 42 through which a screw 44 passes, a nut 46 cooperating with the screw to clamp the bezels 32 and 38 about the reflectors. A flagpole socket 50 may be secured to one of the bridges 42 by the same screw 44, the lower reflector 34 projecting below the interior of the socket to act as a stop or abutment for the lower end of the flagpole 52. The ends 54 of the reflector frame 36 are brought together and riveted as at 56 or otherwise united and, therebeyond, are bulged to provide a socket 58 adapted to detachably and snugly receive a plug 60 projecting from the pan base 62.

The pan sides 22 are slotted as at 64 from the rim 68 toward the base 62 in order to provide clearance for the passage of the trunnions 30 as the unit 69 comprising the reflectors 34 and 40 and the frame 36 is moved into inoperative position within the pan or is moved out of the pan toward operative position. The pan corners are slotted at 72 from the rim 68 to provide tongues 74 about which rubber or the like sleeves 76 are slipped and frictionally held, said sleeves being of somewhat greater length than the tongues so as to project slightly beyond the rim, thus providing anti-slip feet adapted to engage the road and thus resist movement by the wind or other accidental movement from the position in which it is placed.

The pen base 62 is rabbeted to provide a peripheral ledge 78 of a width corresponding to the combined thickness of the material of which the pan 20 is made and of the sleeve 76, in order that two or more such pans may be nested'together (Figs. 3 and 5). The remainder of the pan base 62 has a peripheral margin or ledge 80 adjacent the inner face of which the reflector frame 36 is adapted to be disposed when located within thepan 20 (Figs. 3 and 4). Inward beyond the ledge 80, the pan has a depression 82 to which the plug 60 is aflixed.

When it is desired to pull the reflector unit 69 out of the pan 20, it is necessary merely to place a finger and thumb of one hand within the depression 82 between the depression bottom and the ends of the screw 44 and then to pull the unit out while the pan is held in the other hand. The unit 69 is then swung in the manner indicated in 'Figs. 12 to 15, the motion being completed with the passage of the frame socket 58 about the plug 60, the final position being shown in Figs. '2, 10 and 11. To return the reflector unit 69 to the interior of the pan 20, it is necessary merely to pull the unit free of the plug 60 and reverse swing the unit back to its original position in the pan. The width of the frame .socket 58 normal to the direction of swinging movement of the unit 69 is such as to establish a friction fit between said socket and the plug 60; the dimension of the socket in the direction of swinging movement is somewhat greater than the diameter of the plug so as .to allow clearance to enable the socket to slide onto and off the plugas the unit is swung in one direction or the other.

The invention also comprehends a simple effective mechanism for mounting and compactly holding aplurality of flare devices.

This mechanism, as illustrated, comprises a plate '92 formed with a peripheral rabbet '94 inwhic'hthe feet 76 and adjacent rirn 68 of a re'flectorunit 69, as above described, may seat. The plate is further formed with holes 96 and 97 for the reception of screws 98 or other fastening means adapted to engage in a wall 100 of atruck or other vehicle body for supporting the mecha nism. The holes 96 and 97 are located in depressions 102 and 104; at the backs of the depressions 104 are welded the ends 106 of side and bottom straps 108 and 109, so that the exposed surfaces 110 of said ends lie in the same plane as the back surface 112 of the depression 102 and all such surfaces will thus lie flat against the face of the wall 100. The straps 108 and 109 extend forward from the plate 92 at substantially right angles thereto and are further bent into substantial parallelism with the plate. The front ends 114 of the side straps 108 have mutually facing and spaced offset terminals 116, and the adjacent end 118 of the bottom strap is slotted at 120 to provide arms 122 straddling said terminals and welded as at 124 to the side strap ends adjacent said terminals.

A keeper 126 is pivotally connected at 128 to and between the terminals 116, with a friction fit, and has a cam nose 130 adapted to be forced against the adjacent pan base 62 as the keeper is rotated in the direction to force the pans tightly together and against the bracket plate 92, thus tightly clamping the reflector units 69 in the holder 90. The keeper 126 is also formed with a retaining edge or catch 132 which, during the last portion of the clamping movement of the keeper, rides over the plug 60 of the adjacent pan 20 and comes to rest substantially in contact with the pan base 62. The keeper 126 has a hole 134 which registers with holes 136 in the adjacent strap terminals 116 when the keeper is in the position just noted, the three holes thus registered being adapted to receive the hasp of a padlock (not shown) whereby the flare devices and holding mechanism 90 are rendered theft-proof. To release the flare devices for removal from the holder 90, it is necessary merely to remove the padlock hasp and swing the keeper 126 about 90", that is, until the cam 130 thereof is sufficiently spaced from the adjacent pan base 62 to allow the pan 20 nearest the bracket plate 92 to be moved free of said plate and all of the flare devices then to be raised out of the holder. To return the flare devices, they are nested together substantially as shown in Fig. 3 and inserted into the position shown in Fig. 3 in relation to the holder 90.

The various pivotal connections are preferably characterized by tight friction between the parts, so that manual effort is required to swing the parts of the flare device. This construction precludes rattling, and breakage of the reflectors in the event of accidental release of the reflector unit, as when it is off the peg or plug 60,

The reflector unit 69 when in engagement with the pan ledge 80 is substantially spaced from the pan rim 68, atfording clearance for the reception, in the open end of the pan 20, of the depressed portions of the base 62 of an adjacent nested pan, the plug 60 of the latter pan fitting between the reflectors 34 and 40 of the reflector unit in former pan. The flagpole socket 50 is adapted to substantially engage said base, and bending of any part due to the clamping pressure of the keeper 126 is obviated in view of the yieldable character of the feet 76 which in addition function as anti-rattling means.

All of the parts (excepting the reflectors and feet) are preferably made of steel or other suitable material, and, wherever the construction so lends itself, ofsheet material.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided 'a flare device which, among other things, is of very simple yet sturdy construction, which is readily adjusted to operative and inoperative positions, which, when in operative position, is held in stable equilibrium and will resist skidding or accidental shifting on the road, and which is adapted to be compactly assembled with like devices; together with a sturdy, simple and effective holder which may be readily operated to securely hold two or more of the units and to release the same for removal and use;

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be restricted to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

I claim:

l. A portable road flare comprising a reflector, a frame in which said reflector is mounted, a pan adapted to rest in an inverted position on the road, links outside of and pivotally connected to opposite sides of said pan and to opposite sides of said frame, interengageable means on said pan and frame for holding said reflector stable in an upstanding position on said inverted pan, said frame being dimensioned to fit entirely within said pan, and, when said means are disengaged, being swingable to pass into said pan, said sides of said pan being slotted to provide clear ance for the passage of the pivots between said frame and said links.

2. A portable road flare comprising a reflector unit, a pan adapted to contain entirely said unit and to rest in an inverted position on the road, means including links pivotally connecting said unit to the outside of said pan and enabling said unit to be swung entirely out of said pan to a position over said inverted pan, interengageable means on said unit and pan for holding said unit stable in an upstanding position over said inverted pan, said pan being stepped marginally to enable two or more of said pans to be nested together.

3. A portable road flare, comprising a pan adapted to rest in an inverted position on the road and whose base has a depression providing a marginal inside ledge, a reflector unit comprising a pair of spaced reflectors and a frame embracing the same, means extending through spaced portions of said frame between said reflectors for clamping said frame about said reflectors, said reflector unit being dimensioned to lie completely within said pan and substantially engage said ledge so as to be spaced from said depression, whereby clearance is afforded for insertion of a finger and thumb in said depression at the ends of said clamping means for enabling said reflector unit to be pulled out of said pan, a pair of links outside of and pivotally connected to opposite sides of said pan, means pivotally connecting said links to opposite sides of said frame, said pan sides being slotted to accommodate the lastmentioned means as said reflector unit is swung into and out of said pan, and releasable interengageable means on said pan and unit for holding said reflector unit in upstanding stable position outside of said pan when said pan rests in an inverted position on the road.

4. A portable road flare device comprising a pan adapted to rest in an inverted position on the road, areflector unit dimensioned to fit within and engage a bottom portion of said pan, said pan having a depression between which and said unit a finger may be inserted to facilitate removal of said unit from said pan, and means on and disposed outside of said pan and cooperative with said unit for supporting said unit in upstanding position on said pan when said pan rests in an inverted position on the road.

5. A portable road flare comprising a reflector unit, a pan adapted to contain said unit and to rest in an inverted position on the road, a plug projecting from the base of said pan away from said pan, a pair of links outside of said said pan.

6. A portable road flare comprising a reflector unit including a pair of spaced reflectors and a frame embracing the same, a pan having a base portion and side portions and adapted to receive the reflector unit within the confines thereof, a pair of links pivoted at their one ends to the outside of the side portions of the pan and at their other ends to the frame of the reflector unit for swingably securing the reflector unit to the pan so that the reflector unit may be swung flat into the pan substantially parallel to the base portion thereof or swung normal to the outside of the base portion of the pan adjacent the center thereof, and interengageable means on one end of the frame of the reflector unit and on the outside of the base portion of the pan adjacent the center thereof for holding the reflector unit stable in its position normal to the outside of the base portion of the pan.

7. A portable road flare comprising a reflector unit including a pair of spaced reflectors and a frame embracing the same, a pan having a base portion and side portions and adapted to receive the reflector unit within the confines thereof, a pair of links pivoted at their one ends to the outside of the side portions of the pan and at their other ends to the frame of the reflector unit for swingably securing the reflector unit to the pan so that the reflector unit may be swung flat into' the pan substantially parallel to the base portion thereof or swung normal to the outside of the base portion of the pan adjacent the center thereof, and interengageable means on one end of the frame of the reflector unit and on the outside of the base portion of the pan adjacent the center thereof for holding the reflector unit stable in its position normal to the outside of the base portion of the pan, said pan being stepped marginally to enable two or more of said pans to be nested together when the reflector units are swung flat into the pan.

8. A portable road flare comprising a reflector unit including a pair of spaced substantially circular reflectors and a frame embracing the same, the frame being relatively narrow at its center between the reflectors, a pan having a base portion and side portions and adapted to receive the reflector unit within the confines thereof, a pair of links pivoted at their one ends to the side portions of the pan and at their other ends to the frame of the reflector unit for swingably securing the reflector unit to the pan so that the reflector unit may be swung flat into the pan substantially parallel to the base portion thereof or swung normal to the base portion of the pan adjacent the center thereof, the base portion of the pan having a depression providing a marginal inside ledge, the frame of the reflector unit substantially engaging the marginal inside ledge when the reflector unit is swung flat into the pan, the clearance between the depression and the relatively narrow portion of the reflector unit providing means for grasping the reflector unit for swinging the same out of the pan, and interengageable means on one end of the frame of the reflector unit and on the base portion of the pan adjacent the center thereof for holding the reflector unit stable in its position normal to the base portion of the pan.

9. A portable road flare comprising a reflector unit including a pair of spaced substantially circular reflectors and a frame embracing the same, the frame being relatively narrow at its center between the reflectors, a pan having a base portion and side portions and adapted to receive the reflector unit within the confines thereof, a pair of links pivoted at their one ends to the side portions of the pan and at their other ends to the frame of the reflector unit for swingably securing the reflector unit to the pan so that the reflector unit may be swung flat into the pan substantially parallel to the base portion thereof or swung normal to the base portion of the pan adjacent the center thereof, the base poltion of the pan having a depression providing a marginal inside ledge, the frame of the reflector unit substantially engaging the marginal inside ledge when the reflector unit is swung flat into the pan, the clearance between the depression and the relatively narrow portion of the reflector unit providing means for grasping the reflector unit for swinging the same out of the pan, and interengageable means on one end of the frame of the reflector unit and on the base portion of the pan adjacent the center thereof for holding the reflector unit stable in its position normal to the base portion of the pan, said pan being stepped marginally to enable two or more of said pans to be nested together when the reflector units are swung flat into the pan.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 941,779 Hodgkins Nov. 30, 1909 1,023,178 Stevens Apr. 16, 1912 1,450,084 Hull Mar. 27, 1923 1,866,107 Hiering July 5, 1932 2,136,625 Lasko Nov. 15, 1938 2,166,470 Huber July 18, 1939 2,220,953 Carver Nov. 12, 1940 2,235,282 Carver Mar. 18, 1941 2,236,992 Broadley Apr. 1, 1941 2,237,456 Stambaugh Apr. 8, 1941 2,317,684 Haggart Apr. 27, 1943 2,451,875 Ryder Oct. 19, 1948 2,525,728 Sauer Oct. 10, 1950 2,536,177 Harkins Jan. 2, 1951 

